Movie

The Black Room

“Dead or Alive... He could kill!”

★ 6.5(63)19351h 10m

The Black Room is available to rent or buy on Apple TV Store and Amazon Video in New Zealand. It isn't on a subscription streaming service there yet. Availability checked 22 July 2026.

Where to watch The Black Room

🇳🇿 New Zealand

Good to know

Director: Roy William Neill
Release date: 1935-07-15
Runtime: 1h 10m
Language: English
Status: Released
Country: United States of America
Studio: Columbia Pictures

The Black Room — trailer

About The Black Room

The Black Room is a 1935 movie in the Horror and Crime genres, directed by Roy William Neill, starring Boris Karloff, Marian Marsh and Robert Allen. It has a runtime of 1 hour 10 minutes. It holds an average rating of 6.5/10 from 63 viewers. Below you can see where to watch The Black Room in New Zealand — across streaming, rental and purchase options — along with the full cast, trailer and viewer reviews.

Synopsis

In a 16th-century European town, the ruling family has been given a prophecy that, should there ever be twin boys born, the younger will murder the older; so is dismayed when twins are born to the popular baron. The older grows to be a selfish, slovenly man, who inherits the castle at his father's death and becomes ruler over the formerly happy villagers. He enjoys his power until he learns his younger brother is returning from abroad and, afraid of the prophecy, he determines to murder his sibling, hide his body in the "black room" - an old torture chamber sealed away behind the fireplace - and then impersonate him, right down to his withered arm. In this way he hopes to not only avoid the prophecy, but also escape consequences of his other criminal deeds and obtain marriage to a local girl of the nobility...

Cast

Boris Karloff

Baron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman

Marian Marsh

Thea Hassel

Robert Allen

Lt. Albert Lussan

Thurston Hall

Col. Paul Hassel

Katherine DeMille

Mashka

John Buckler

Beran - the gypsy

Henry Kolker

Baron de Berghman

Colin Tapley

Paul Hassel as a young lieutenant

Torben Meyer

Peter, the majordomo

John George

Inn Waiter (uncredited)

John Bleifer

Franz - Captured Assassin-Villager (uncredited)

Marion Lessing

Maria the Chambermaid

Themes & keywords

prophecyarranged marriagecastleruling classtwin brothertorture chamberclass differenceslusttwinsdoghedonismimpersonationfratricideframed for murder16th century

Frequently asked questions

Where can I watch The Black Room in New Zealand?+

In New Zealand, The Black Room is available to rent or buy on Apple TV Store and Amazon Video. It isn't on a subscription streaming service there right now.

Is The Black Room on Netflix?+

The Black Room is not on Netflix in New Zealand right now.

How long is The Black Room?+

The Black Room has a runtime of 1 hour 10 minutes (70 minutes).

Who stars in The Black Room?+

The Black Room stars Boris Karloff, Marian Marsh, Robert Allen, Thurston Hall and Katherine DeMille.

When did The Black Room come out?+

The Black Room is a 1935 movie directed by Roy William Neill.

What genre is The Black Room?+

The Black Room is Horror and Crime film.

Who directed The Black Room?+

The Black Room was directed by Roy William Neill.